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Temples
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple
Deity: Lord Shiva
Locality: Yaganti
State/Country: Andhra Pradesh
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple is one of the most famous Shiva Temple is Andhra Pradesh state. The temple dates back to 5th and 6th centuries with contributions from Pallavas, Cholas, Chalukyas and Vijayanagara rulers. T
he temple received significant contribution from Vijayanagara Kings Harihara & Bukka Rayalu, who finished the construction of several structures in and around the temple.
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple, Andhra Pradesh
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Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple is one of the few temples patronized by one of the great dynasties of India. Every year Maha Shivaratri is celebrated and a large number of devotees from all over Andhra Pradesh visit. Shiva, Parvati and Nandi are the main deities in this temple.This temple is 14 km away from Banaganipalli in kurnool dt. The saint lord Veerabrahmendra swami stayed here for some time and wrote Kalagnanam. Yaganti is located in Yerramala hills that offer immense natural beauty and unique setting to the locality. There are a several natural caves in the hills around the temple which were home for several saints throughout the ages, including that of Great Telugu saint and astrologer Potuluri Veera Brahmam Garu.
An amazing feature of this temple is its Pushkarini with very pure water. No one knows how the water flows into Pushkarini in all the seasons. Devotees consider that a bath in the holy Pushkarini before visiting Shiva is highly beneficial.
As per legend, crows do not fly in Yaganti. When Sage Agastya was meditating here, Kakasura, king of crows disturbed him from his meditation so, he cursed the crows not to enter the premises. Thus, Shani also can’t enter this place as crow is the vehicle of Shani.
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple was constructed by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Sangama Dynasty of theVijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. It was built according to Vaishnavaite traditions.
One story of the site’s origin is as follows: The sage Agastya wanted to build a temple for Lord Venkateswara on this site. However, the statue that was made could not be installed as the toe nail of the idol got broken. The sage was upset over this and performed a penance for Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva appeared, he said the place suits Shiva better as it resembles Kailash. Agastya then requested Lord Shiva to give the devotees a Parvathi Goddess as Lord Uma Maheswara in a single stone, which Lord Shiva obliged.
A second story is as follows: Chitteppa, a devotee of Lord Shiva, was worshiping Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva appeared to him as a tiger. Chitteppa understood that it was Lord Shiva in tiger form, and shouted Neganti Shivanu ne kanti (meaning: I saw Shiva I saw), and danced with joy. There is a cave called Chitteppa nearby.
The Yaganti Nandi Statue history.
The story according to the priests is that when the sage Agastya completed his uttara desha yatra and started dakshina desha yatra he found the beautiful and pleasant place called yaganti( Nekanti-i have seen)and thought to build a temple for Lord Venkateswara on this site . while roaming around caves one of the caves was found to have a very old statue of Lord Vishnu . After all the yagna, homa and pooja he found that the statue really contains a small defect as broken nail on the foot thumb finger. To seek an explanation he prayed to Shiva and Shiva explained that at this place which contains natural springs and nature only I can be worshipped. Then the sage Agastya asked a boon to Shiva to reside in this place for eternity with Mother Parvathi. So this place is called as Umamahesware (Uma: parvathi, Maheswara: shiva) temple. The shrine contains the statue of Shiva and Parvathi on a single stone.
The presiding deity of Sri Uma Maheswara temple is Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in a single stone.There is a cave called Agastya cave where saint Agastya said to have performed penance towards Lord Shiva.The idol of Lord Vishnu which was said to be damaged was also found in one of the cave of the temple called Venkateswara cave.The Nandi (Lord Nandeeswarar), the mount of Lord Shiva, present in this temple is believed to be increasing in its size. The researchers says that the rock out of which Nandi made has a growing nature.And it was calculated that the idol Nandi grows about 10 mm per eight years.The special feature about this temple is its Pushkarini (temple tank). Water flows from the bottom of the hill through the mouth of Nandi and fills the Pushkarini. The specialty is that the water flows throughout the year.Legend says that when saint Agastya was performing penance towards Lord Shiva at Yaganti, crows around the temple disturbed his penance. Irritated by crows, the sage Agastya cursed the crows that it cannot enter the place.And even today, we cannot find crows in the temple premises of Sri Uma Maheswara temple.
Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple remains open from morning 6.00 AM to 1.00 PM and in the evening from 3.00 PM to 8.00 PM.
Maha Shivratri – February/March
Location and Transportations
By Air
The nearest airport to Sri Uma Maheswara Temple is Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Hyderabad which is about 12 Km from the temple.
By Train
The nearest railway station to Sri Uma Maheswara Temple is Secunderabad railway station which is about 7 Km from the temple.
By Road
It is connected by state transport to Hyderabad, Tirupati, Chittoor, Cuddapah, Kurnool, Nellore and Chennai which is 24 km from the place Allagadda and is also connected to other major cities.
Private accommodation is also available for those who want to stay here. There are several shops available that sell water & snacks, but there are no restaurants available here. Shivarathri is celebrated and a large number of devotees from all over the state. Free lunch and dinner are provided by the temple in a large dining hall and the food quality is good.
Buses are available to Yaganti from Banaganapalli twice a day at 7 AM & 3:30 PM.
It usually takes around 2-3 hours to visit the main temple and the cave temples near by.